Multi-storied building construction



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WEEZIMEE== Z JOHANNES HOHLA ATTORNEY Oct. 26,1965 J. HOHLA MULTI-STORIED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed D60. 1. 1961 Izi ZiM-M Oct. 26, 1965 J. HQHLA 3,213,572

MULTISTORIED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 1. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 86 l 8 0o 1 1/ i 7 3m in "H? 3 3' I; g I lllllllllll I I 51 g 3b INVENTORJOHANNELS HOHLA WQM ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,213,572MULTI-STORIED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Johannes Hohla, Forstmannstrasse 95,Essen-Werden, Germany Filed Dec. 1, 1961, Ser. No. 156,241 Claimspriority, application Germany, Dec, 14, 1960, H 41,212 Claims. (Cl.52-73) This invention relates to an improved multi-storied buildingconstruction that is characterized by the use of a plurality ofparallel, vertically-spaced horizontal truss means that extendlongitudinally through the central portion of the building and aresupported inter-mediate their ends by vertical central core pillarmeans. In accordance with the invention, the building includes aplurality of vertically-spaced reinforced concrete fioor slabssuccessive ones of which are connected at their longitudinal centralportions with the upper and lower chords of the main truss means,respectively, whereby the lateral free ends of the floor slabs extendlaterally outwardly from opposite sides of the main truss means in acantilevered manner.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a building constructionhaving central pillar means which support the various floor slabs bymeans of horizontal main trusses that extend in the longitudinaldirection of the building. Successive floor slabs are carriedin acentrally-supported cantilevered manner-by the upper and lower chords,respectively, of the horizontal main trusses with the result thatadditional support-free usable space is provided between alternatestories of the building. As a consequence of the novel buildingconstruction, the successive floors may have different ceiling heightsand/ or floor breadths, thus permitting customizing of the building tothe needs of the tenant. Moreover, the central core pillar constructionmakes it possible to successively form the respective reinforcedconcrete floor slabs from the top of the building downward.Consequently, upon formation of the upper floor slabs, construction ofthe lower floor slabs may proceed regardless of weather conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building structurehaving large-span floors the longitudinal central portions of which aresupported solely by horizontal main truss means connected with verticalcentral pillar means, whereby the use of additional supporting columnsarranged outside the core pillars is avoided, thus affording a maximumsupport-free usable floor area.

A further object of the invention is to provide a multistoried buildingconstruction of non-circular symmetrical configuration and including aframework structure having the greatest horizontal rigidity in thatdirection in which the greatest horizontal forces (wind pressure forces,for example) are developed. Consequently, the need for additionalstiffening structural members such as windbracings or the like, .isavoided.

Otherobjects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from astudy of the following specification when considered in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevational view of the multistoried building;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2--2of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of thecomponents shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURES 4 and 5 are sectional views taken along lines 4-4 and 5-5,respectively, of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view taken alongline 66 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a somewhat schematic horizontal sectional view similar toFIGURE 5 of another embodiment of building construction having singlecentral pillar means;

FIGURES 8 and 9 are somewhat schematic horizontal sectional views of twoembodiments of multi-pillar constructions; and

FIGURE 10 is a detailed perspective view of the upper portion of thebuilding construction of FIGURE 1.

Referring more particularly to FIGURES 1 and 10, the building frameworkincludes central core pillar means including a .pair of spaced verticalpillars 2, 2' that are secured at their lower ends in the buildingfoundation. Connected between the pillars 2, 2' are a plurality ofparallel, vertically spaced main truss means that extend longitudinallythrough the central portion of the building. Each of the main trussmeans comprises a pair of parallel, horizontally spaced trusses 3, 3'having heights that correspond with the respective ceiling heights ofthe various floors. The main trusses 3, 3' are secured to the pillars 2,2, respectively, and include upper and lower chords. Pairs of floorslabs 1 and 1' are connected at their central portions with the upperand lower chords, respectively, of the main truss pairs. The maintrusses have level upper and lower surfaces and are preferably formedfrom profile steel, steel tubes, sheet metal, or reinforced concrete. Ifdesired they may be prefabricated prior to connection with the pillars.

As shown in FIGURE 6 the upper and lower floor slabs 1 and 1' include,respectively, body portions 5 and 5 (that may be formed of reinforcedconcrete) and floor trusses 6 and 6 (that may be formed as solid webs,if desired). Slab 1 is rigidly connected at its center with the upperchords 3a, 3a of the main trusses 3 and 3', respectively, and slab 1' isrigidly connected with the lower chords 3b and 3b. The floor trusses 6and 6' have horizontal upper surfaces upon which the floor is laid. Inaccordance with conventional architectural load transfer design, thelateral extremities of body portions 5 and 5 and the lower surfaces ofthe floor trusses are upwardly inclined relative to the horizontal.Consequently, at each side the floor slabs overhang the main trusses 3,3', and the slab loads are transferred to the central pillars 2, 2' viathe main trusses.

The pillars 2, 2', which preferably consist of sections 2a, 2b and 2a,2b of reinforced concrete construction formed by conventional sliding orclimbing mold techniques, are provided at their adjacent and remotesurfaces with lateral extensions 7 for supporting the horizon? tal maintrusses 3, 3' and the edge beams 8, respectively. The web thicknesses ofthe pillars are so selected that through proper reinforcing of the floorslabs, the development of rupturing shearing stresses in the pillars isavoided. As illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 7, the support means 7 forsupporting the edge beams 8 may be in the form of vertical ribs thearrangement of which corresponds with the greatest wall stresses.

The horizontal main trusses 3, 3 and the edge beams 8 are supported inopenings in, or protecting flanges on, the pillar walls. In certaincasesas for example when the floor widths are smaller than therespective ceiling heights and when edge beams are connected to theassemblage as described below-for proper resistance to bending it isdesirable to use pillars 2, 2 of trapezoidal cross-section the smallerdimensions of which are arranged outermost as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5.

In addition to the main trusses, the pillars support horizontal edgebeams 8 (of optional height) adjacent the free ends of the floor slabs.According to the illustrated preferred embodiment these beams are formedof steel or reinforced concrete and are hollow. During formation of thereinforced-concrete floor slabs, the respective edge beams may be raised(by suitable lifting means such as hydraulic jacks), from their supportson the pillars to positions in which they support the molds within whichthe floor slabs are cast. Upon hardening of the slabs, the edge beamsare lowered to their illustrated positions. The beams may then bepermanently secured in place for use as functional building elements(for example, as heating or air conditioning conduits). For larger maintruss spans or overhangs, these edge beams may be designed to receivenon-symmetrical loads from the floor slabs so that torsional stresses inthe main trusses are diminished or avoided.

As illustrated diagrammatically in the embodiment of FIGURE 7, thepillars 80, 80 support the horizontal main trusses 81, 81' and theangularly arranged edge beams 82. The end beams 83 are supported by thebeams 82 and the trusses 81, 81'.

It is important to note that for buildings which do not have circular orstandard polygonal floor plans, resistance to bending in the directionin which the largest exernal forces are applied is obtained by providinga series of pillars each of which is arranged with its majorcross-sectional axis normal to the horizontal longitudinal axis of thebuilding.

Referring to the multiple-pillar construct-ion of FIG- URE 8, aplurality of pillars 91, 91, 92, 92', 93 and 93' are so arranged thatthe respective main trusses 94, 94' and the edge beams 95 carriedthereby are colinear and spaced via expansion joint means. In theembodiment of FIGURE 9, the main trusses 101, 101' and the edge beams102 are continuous and are supported by a series of pillars 103, 103,104, 104', 105 and 105'.

As a consequence of the pillar, main truss, and overhanging floor slabconstruction, the floor slabs may be formed from the top of the buildingdownward by progressive lowering of the floor slab molds. Simultaneouscasting of floor slabs at various levels of the building may also beaccomplished if desired. As shown in FIGURE 1, each of the slabs issupport-free at its ends. Consequently, an appreciable amount of Windowspace may be provided in the building outer shell. Furthermore, the maintrusses 3 and 3' extend only between alternate pairs of floors, thusproviding additional useful space between the remaining floors. It isapparent that by the construction of the present invention, the variousstories may be given arbitrary ceiling heights and the floors may begiven differing breadths in accordance with the needs of the tenant.

Owing to the upward inclination of the lower surfaces of the fioorslabs, equipment may be readily installed on the various floors by theuse of external cranes or other lifting devices. The principles of thepresent invention are applicable to the construction of officebuildings, apartment houses, and hotels. Furthermore, the novel buildingconstruction is particularly suitable for use in the erection ofindustrial buildings (such as precision machine shops, mills, bakeries,etc.) that are custom built to receive particular machinery.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustratedand described, it is apparent that modifications may be made in thedescribed construction without deviating from the scope of the inventionset forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-storied building construction having longitudinal andtransverse axes of symmetry, comprising successive first, second, thirdand fourth horizontal vertically-spaced reinforced-concrete floor slabsarranged with their central longitudinal horizontal axes contained in acommon vertical plane extending longitudinally through the center of thebuilding;

a pair of parallel vertically-spaced horizontal main truss meansextending longitudinally solely between said first and second andbetween said third and fourth floor slabs, respectively, thelongitudinal axes of said main truss means being parallel and coplanarwith the longitudinal axes of said floor slabs, said main truss meansbeing contained solely between a pair of spaced vertical planes parallelwith and on opposite sides of said common vertical plane, said pair ofvertical planes being spaced inwardly from the longitudinal edges ofsaid floor slabs, respect1vely, each of said horizontal main truss meansincluding rigidly connected horizontal upper and lower chords secured tothe floor slabs associated therewith, respectively, and extendingsubstantially the lengths thereof;

and vertical pillar means extending upwardly through said floor slabsintermediate the ends thereof and connected with said horizontal maintruss means solely intermediate their ends, whereby each of said floorslabs extends at each side outwardly beyond the associated horizontalmain truss means in a cantilevered manner and whereby the space betweensaid second and third floor slabs is unobstructed by any horizontal maintruss means.

2. A multi-storied building construction, comprising a pair of coplanarparallel vertically-spaced horizontal man truss means each includingrigidly connected horizontal upper and lower chords;

means supporting said main truss means solely between their endscomprising a pair of vertical pillars ar-- ranged on opposite sides ofand connected with intermediate portions of said main truss means, eachof said truss means extending longitudinally at each end beyond saidvertical pillars;

successive first, second, third and fourth horizontal vertically-spacedreinforced concrete floor slabs arranged with their longitudinal axescoplanar with the axes of said horizontal main truss means, said firstand second floor slabs and said third and fourth floor slabs beingarranged on opposite of, and rigidly connected with the adjacent chordsof, the lower and upper horizontal main truss means, respectively, eachof said floor slabs extending at each side in a cantilevered mannerlaterally outwardly beyond the horizontal main truss means associatedtherewith, whereby the space between said second and third floor slabsis unobstructed by any horizontal main truss means.

3. A multi-storied building construction, comprising successive first,second, third and fourth horizontal vertically-spacedreinforced-concrete floor slabs arranged with their central longitudinalhorizontal axes contained in a common vertical plane, all of said floorslabs having the same length and at least some of said slabs havingdifferent widths;

vertical pillar means including a pair of horizontally spaced verticalpillars extending upwardly through intermediate portions of said floorslabs on opposite sides of said common vertical plane, the outermostvertical edges of said pillars being spaced a distance substantiallyequal to the maximum width of said slabs, said pillars being also spacedfrom the ends of said slabs;

and a pair of parallel vertically-spaced horizontal main truss meansextending longitudinally solely between said first and second andbetween said third and fourth floor slabs, respectively, thelongitudinal axes of said main truss means being parallel and coplanarwith the longitudinal axes of said floor slabs, each of said main truss-means being rigidly connected intermediate its ends with said verticalpillar means and extending longitudinally at each end horizontallytherebeyond, said horizontal main truss means being contained solelybetween a pair of parallel longitudinal vertical planes passing throughthe adjacent surfaces of said pillars, each of said main truss meansincluding rigidly connected horizontal upper and lower chords secured tothe floor slabs associated therewith, respectively and extendingsubstantially the lengths thereof, said horizontal main truss meansbeing spaced inwardly from the longitudinal side,

edges of the slabs, whereby each of said floor slabs extends at eachside outwardly beyond the associated horizontal main truss means in acantilevered manner and whereby the space between said second and thirdfloor slabs is unobstructed by any horizontal main truss means.

4. A multi-storied building construction, comprising successive first,second, third and fourth horizontal vertically-spaced reinforcedconcrete floor slabs arranged with their central longitudinal horizontalaxes contained in a common vertical plane extending longitudinallythrough the center of the building;

a pair of horizontally-spaced vertical pillars arranged on oppositesides of said common vertical plane and extending upwardly through saidfloor slabs intermediate the ends thereof;

and a pair of parallel vertically spaced horizontal main truss meansextending solely between said first and second and between said thirdand fourth floor slabs, respectively, the longitudinal axes of said maintruss means being parallel and coplanar with the longitudinal axes ofsaid floor slabs, each of said horizontal main truss means comprising apair of generally rectangular, vertically arranged horizontal trussesrigidly secured to the adjacent surfaces of said pillars, respectively,each of said trusses including upper and lower horizontal chords securedto the adjacent floor slabs, respectively, and extending longitudinallythe length thereof, said chords extending at each end horizontallybeyond said vertical pillars, whereby each of said floor slabs extendsat each side outwardly beyond the associated horizontal main trusses ina cantilevered manner and whereby the space between said second andthird floor slabs is unobstructed by any horizontal main truss means. 5.A multi-storied building construction as defined in claim 4 wherein eachof the floor slabs has in vertical transverse cross-section a generallyV-shaped configuration with the lateral edges of the slab having ahigher elevation than the longitudinal central portion.

uary 1951, page 80.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCESArchitectural Forum Publication, vol. 94, Issue 1, Jan- PopularMechanics Publication, December 1959, page FRANK L. ABBOTT, PrimaryExaminer.

WILLIAM I. MUSHAKE, HENRY C. SUTHERLAND,

Examiners.

1. A MULTI-STORIED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION HAVING LONGITUDINAL ANDTRANSVERSE AXES OF SYMMETRY, COMPRISING SUCCESSIVE FIRST, SECOND, THIRDAND FOURTH HORIZONTAL VERTICALLY-SPACED REINFORCED-CONCRETE FLOOR SLABSARRANGED WITH THEIR CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL HORIZONTAL AXES CONTAINED IN ACOMMON VERTICAL PLANE EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THROUGH THE CENTER OF THEBUILDING; A PAIR OF PARALLEL VERTICALLY-SPACED HORIZONTAL MAIN TRUSSMEANS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY SOLELY BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND ANDBETWEEN SAID THIRD AND FOURTH FLOOR SLABS, RESPECTIVELY, THELONGITUDINAL AXES OF SAID MAIN TRUSS MEANS BEING PARALLEL AND COPLANARWITH THE LONGITUDINAL AXES OF SAID FLOOR SLABS, SAID MAIN TRUSS MEANSBEING CONTAINED SOLELY BETWEEN A PAIR OF SPACED VERTICAL PLANES PARALLELWITH AND ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID COMMON VERTICAL PLANE, SAID PAIR OFVERTICAL PLANES BEING SPACED INWARDLY FROM THE LONGITUDINAL EDGES OFSAID FLOORS SLABS, RESPECTIVELY, EACH OF SAID HORIZONTAL MAIN TRUSSMEANS INCLUDING RIGIDLY CONNECTED HORIZONTAL UPPER AND LOWER CHORDSSECURED TO THE FLOOR SLABS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH, RESPECTIVELY, ANDEXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE LENTHS THEREOF; AND VERTICAL PILLAR MEANSEXTENDING UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID FLOOR SLABS INTERMEDIATE THE ENDSTHEREOF AND CONNECTED WITH SAID HORIZONTAL MAIN TRUSS MEANS SOLELYINTERMEDIATE THEIR ENDS, WHEREBY EACH OF SAID FLOOR SLABS EXTENDS ATEACH SIDE OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE ASSOCIATED HORIZONTAL MAIN TRUSS MEANS INA CANTILEVERED MANNER AND WHEREBY THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID SECOND ANDTHIRD FLOOR SLABS IS UNOBSTRUCTED BY ANY HORIZONTAL MAIN TRUSS MEANS.